CHAPTER 16 — TEN MINUTES TO BURN THE SYSTEM
“DON’T TOUCH EITHER BUTTON!”
Rachel grabbed Michael’s hand.
The countdown dropped.
9:52.
Thomas searched the network.
“This isn’t just a vote. It’s connected to something.”
Emily opened the encrypted metadata.
Her face changed.
“Servers.”
Michael looked at her.
“What servers?”
“Hundreds.”
Rachel understood.
“Orion’s entire infrastructure.”
If Michael chose DISSOLVE, Charles’s protocol would release financial evidence to independent investigators across multiple countries, shut down Orion accounts, expose shell corporations, and permanently destroy administrative access.
But another file appeared.
COLLATERAL DISCLOSURE RISK: HIGH.
Michael froze.
“What does that mean?”
Rachel opened it.
Witnesses.
Undercover assets.
Protected families.
Exactly the same nightmare they had faced with the Hayes Archive.
Michael stared at the timer.
7:41.
“They built the same weapon.”
Rachel nodded.
“And gave you the same impossible choice.”
Preserve Orion, and the organization survived.
Destroy it recklessly, and innocent people could be exposed.
Lucas stood silently behind them.
Then he said something nobody expected.
“Why do you have to choose either one?”
Michael turned.
“What?”
Lucas pointed at the screen.
“You always tell me when a game gives you two bad choices, look for a third.”
Thomas stared at him.
Then at the code.
“A third option.”
Emily began searching.
6:03.
Hidden beneath the voting interface was an administrator channel.
Rachel whispered, “Charles built an override.”
Michael opened it.
A password request appeared.
WHAT IS THE ONLY INHERITANCE WORTH PROTECTING?
Michael stared.
He remembered the kitchen.
Pancakes.
Lucas laughing.
Sophie safe in his arms.
He typed one word.
CHOICE.
ACCESS GRANTED.
A third option appeared.
TRANSFER EVIDENCE. PROTECT IDENTITIES. TERMINATE AUTHORITY.
Rachel’s eyes filled.
“That’s it.”
Michael pressed it.
The countdown stopped.
For one second, nothing happened.
Then:
ORION AUTHORITY TERMINATED.
Michael exhaled.
But Thomas suddenly stared toward the security monitor.
“Michael.”
Outside the house, three black vehicles had arrived.
Armed figures stepped out.
Thomas raised his gun.
“They’re not here to stop the vote.”
Michael looked at the screen.
“Then why are they here?”
May you like
Rachel went pale.
“To kill the man who just won it.”
